A new document on freedom
of expression and opinion, adopted May 12 by the 28 foreign ministers of the
European Union, presses nearly all the right buttons. Drawing its inspiration
from international human rights norms as well as from the EU's treaties and its
charter of fundamental rights, the document reaffirms the role of freedom of
opinion and expression as "an essential foundation for democracy, rule of law,
peace, stability, sustainable inclusive development, and participation in
public affairs." It also makes a strong case for free and independent
journalism. The ministers committed the EU and member states to the defense of
journalists' freedom and safety, and endorsed watchdog journalism as a decisive
factor in "uncovering abuses of power, shining a light on corruption, and
questioning received opinion."

Denmark's Prime
Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt is in China this week to meet with top leaders,
according to international news reports. CPJ's Advocacy and Communications
Associate Magnus Ag and Senior Asia Program Researcher Madeline Earp co-wrote
an op-ed calling on Thorning--as she is called in the Danish press--to raise the
issue of press freedom. An edited version ran in the Danish newspaper Politiken today.

Speaking truthfully to China on its repression of human rights can be a tricky endeavor in diplomatic affairs, but Helle Thorning-Schmidt has a prime opportunity to raise press freedom on her trip to China. Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton did not give the issue public priority during their visits earlier this month, but as Thorning meets with top Communist Party leaders and addresses a World Economic Forum meeting in Tianjin, the opportunity must not be wasted.

In 2005, we deliberately violated the
immigration laws of India. We broke the law by producing a documentary film even though we had entered the country on a tourist visa. We broke the law
because we wanted to show that Scandinavian companies were in violation of many
other laws in India.

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French satellite provider Eutelsat announced yesterday it is
suspending Kurdish satellite station Roj TV after a Danish court last week levied a hefty fine
against the satellite station for promoting terrorism. Eutelsat's decision
comes despite Roj TV's appeal before the Danish High Court, which is pending. The
case has implications for how media content is evaluated, the rights of
minority media, and how terrorism laws are balanced with human rights.

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New York, February 14, 2008—CPJ is concerned by reports that police in Denmark have uncovered a plot to kill the author of a cartoon depicting the Prophet Muhammad—one of 12 drawings that sparked a global controversy two years ago.

Danish security services arrested a Danish citizen of Moroccan origin and two Tunisians on Tuesday. At least 17 Danish dailies, including the leading national dailies Politiken and Ekstra Bladet, reprinted Westergaard’s cartoon in solidarity after learning of the murder plot against him, according to Agence France-Presse.

New York, May 1, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned by the criminal charges brought against two Danish reporters accused of leaking state secrets by publishing intelligence reports that questioned the existence of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. Danish journalists say it is the first time that reporters have been indicted in their country for leaking state secrets, Agence France-Presse reported.